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| Those Operation Torch styles roundels are pretty cool... |
No, not the Apache, not the Invader, not the Screaming Helldiver - the North American A-36 Mustang. Contrary to common parlance, the official name of the A-36 was the Mustang, North American Aviation's dive bomber version of the P-51. It was North American Aviation that called the A-36 the Apache, while in the 27th Fighter Bomber Group it was known as the Invader. To add even more confusion, much like "fork-tailed devil" and "whistling death," allegedly the Axis called it the Screaming Helldiver - not certain if I buy that story even if historical accounts indicate that it made a louder screeching noise than the Junkers 87 Stuka.
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| Michael T. Russo |
Much like the early P-51 Mustangs, the A-36, using the Allison V-1710 engine, delivered poor performance at higher altitudes, but at the altitudes that dive bombers would start their run (typically 12,000 feet or less) the Allison performed well. The top speed of the A-36 was 365 miles per hour, while in a nearly vertical dive it needed air brakes to limit the dive speed to 390 mph, otherwise speeds would become excessive and lead to the A-36 not being able to pull out of their run. Carrying up to 1,000 pounds of bombs with six .50 caliber Browning M2A2 machineguns, the A-36 packed a decent punch. The gun arrangement was unique - four guns in the wings, and two under the engine firing through the propeller. And when the A-36 was not carrying bombs, it could hold its own against enemy fighter aircraft - eighty-four kills were claimed against Axis aircraft. And the 27th FBG even produced an A-36 ace - Michael T. Russo, who shot down a variety of aircraft (including Focke-Wulf Fw 190, Messerschmitt Bf 109, Fieseler Fi 156 Storch, and even a Junkers Ju 52). Russo is called by many the first Mustang ace.
I have been able to cobble together about a dozen scenarios that mostly feature engagements in the Mediterranean, but also one action in the China-Burma-India theater. I will get a few of those into Check Your 6! format and post them in the future.
Ratings - With the Allison engine and issues with the single stage supercharger at higher altitudes, here is my take on the P-51A and the A-36 for CY6!:
Miniatures - Flight Deck Decals and Table Top Flights make the A-36 while Raiden has a P-51A which would work as a good proxy especially if the casting has the fuselage guns (most P-51As had only the wing guns). For some excellent decals that cover the A-36 specifically, check out Scale Specialties available from I-94. There is a sheet that covers early P-51s and A-36s in North Africa.
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| ...but the red outlined star and bars add some color. |
Paint schemes for North Africa and the Mediterranean are simple (and I like simple for my own painting) - Olive Drab 41 upper surfaces over Neutral Gray 43 undersides. The propeller hub was usually painted red with yellow identification stripes on the wings (and included in the decal sheet mentioned above). National insignia could be the white star on blue circle with yellow surround (Operation Torch style) or the 1943 star and bars with red outline - later the blue outlined star and bars would be used. Add in some yellow aircraft numbers and tail codes usually found in white and you have a fairly utilitarian scheme, but one with some color with the nose and national insignia outlines.
There are a few books on the A-36, but one that I would recommend for a deep dive (pun intended) is Straight Down! - The North American A-36 Dive-Bomber in Action, written by Peter C. Smith in 2000. While out of print, and on the pricey side on the aftermarket sites, it details the development and use of the A-36. Most other titles on the A-36 include sections dedicated to modeling, which I do not find useful.
